The Maverick Meets His Match (Hearts of Wyoming Book 2)(39)
“Ben Cornwall, I’d like you to meet Prescott’s newest partner, Ty Martin. He’s helping Prescott through this transition period.”
The introduction was smooth, even if she failed to mention that Ty was running the company. And her husband.
She seemed comfortable in this ambassador role, strengthening connections with people she’d obviously known most of her life. Ty shook the committeeman’s firm and work-roughened hand.
Ben gave Ty the once-over, like Ty was some heifer he was interested in buying but unsure of the price.
“You a stockman, are you?” Ben said, his hands now on his hips. The older man wasn’t being unfriendly, just curious—at least, that’s how Ty was going to take it.
“No. Harold Prescott is the stockman, and a better one you won’t find. I’m a businessman who owes my success to J. M. Prescott’s belief in me. I’ve stepped in to fill the gap created by his passing in order to help Mandy out. She’s the one who will make sure the rodeo will live up to Prescott standards.”
Ben kept his focus on Ty. “Being our event is at the end of the season, we’ve struggled to attract top talent. So naturally, we’ve had some concern about assuring a quality show now that JM is no longer at the helm.” He shifted his gaze to Mandy. “It’s a lot to take on if you don’t have the experience.”
“It is,” Mandy responded, standing tall and taking the man’s skepticism without flinching.
“But Prescott Rodeo Company is more than just one man, Ben,” Mandy continued. “It’s a family. JM made sure of that. As such, the Prescott family is as committed as ever to providing our rodeo councils the highest quality event with the best broncs and bulls. I feel fortunate JM started grooming me a decade ago. He understood he wasn’t going to live forever.”
Ben shook his head. “Geez, last year I’d hardly have guessed he was feeling poorly.”
Mandy’s throat moved in a hard swallow. “Neither did he. By the time they diagnosed it, it was too late.”
Ben nodded, probably having heard that scenario far too often. “Tucker not interested?”
Ben didn’t appear to notice, but Mandy stiffened. “He likes to ride ’em, not run ’em, but he’s part owner. This is a family affair, as I said,” she answered, gilding the truth a bit. “I didn’t mention that Ty is not only a business partner but my husband.”
If she fumbled those last two words, Ty could sympathize. It sounded strange to him too. He knew she’d emphasized family to stress continuity, and she’d only reluctantly included him to make that point.
Ben looked from one to the other as if trying to gauge the truth, and he blew out a breath. “Well, congratulations, you two.” Ben waved a hand toward the office doorway. “Let’s have a walk around outside and see if we can’t find Lyle Thorton. You remember Lyle, Mandy.”
“He still in charge of the volunteers?” Mandy asked, turning toward the door.
Ben nodded as he grabbed his cowboy hat from atop a pile of papers. “It’ll give me a chance to show you around, Ty, even though there isn’t much going on just yet. We only have a senior team roping competition scheduled in the outdoor arena for this weekend, but in another six weeks the place will be jumping with the volunteers getting things spruced up for the fair and rodeo.”
As they filed out of the office, Ty reached for Mandy’s hand. Her puzzled eyes rose to meet his. Well, he guessed if they were newly married, they should act like it.
Her skin was smooth and warm, and he brushed his thumb along the back of her hand. As she didn’t pull her hand away, he added a little pressure to let her know he was there, with her, walking by her side. She turned her head toward him and frowned. He smiled back.
There was still tonight and one hundred and seventy-nine other nights ahead of them.
The sun was bright as they followed Ben, strolling hand in hand, across a parking lot toward what looked to be an open-sided arena. She matched his stride, and to anyone looking, they must have seemed a happily married couple.
It felt surprisingly comfortable having her small, slender hand in his, as if he belonged to someone, belonged to something. Not a familiar feeling. And one he wasn’t sure he could get used to.
“This complex covers a hundred and twenty acres,” Ben noted as they stopped at the entrance to the arena.
Ty scanned the impressive amount of buildings dotting the landscape. As a developer, he could appreciate the extent of the investment the county had made.
“This where the rodeo will be held?” Ty asked, turning his attention back to the empty seats that ringed about a thirty-foot show area as a hot breeze blew off the asphalt of the parking lot.
Ben shook his head. “This is our outdoor arena. Only holds two thousand. We use this for smaller attendance events like the senior team roping, but I thought Lyle might be hereabouts.”
Just then a tall, thin, balding man rounded the corner.
“Thought I saw you crossing the lot,” Lyle said as he drew closer.
“Lyle.” Mandy said, tugging her hand from Ty’s. He reluctantly released his grasp, and Mandy stepped forward to shake the elder man’s hand. “How’s Cora doing? Last I heard, she was laid up with arthritis after visiting the Houston Stock Show.”
“That she was, but she’s better now. Sorry to hear about JM, Mandy.” Lyle’s eyes scrunched up like he was blinking back tears as he removed his weathered hat.